Body Identified, Is Reported to Be Missing L.A. Man

CORONA, Calif. — A body found partly buried in a lemon grove here has been identified as that of Jose Antonio Rivera, 30, a Los Angeles mechanic who was last seen by his wife Christmas morning, police said Friday.

Rivera's wife, Maria, had reported him missing to the Los Angeles Police Department on Jan. 6, said Corona Police Sgt. Roger Brabant. "She last saw her husband on Christmas morning, 1985, when he left their residence to visit a friend."

The body was found March 26 by five people having a party in the lemon grove, said Lt. Bob Martin, commander of detectives.

An autopsy revealed that Rivera had been strangled, but police have found no apparent motive and no suspects. Rivera's body had been in the crude, shallow grave for two or three months, estimated Jim Camp, Riverside County deputy coroner.